devolution, 2006
Australian Dance Theatre
Tim Ohl, Devolution, ADT
photo Chris Herzfeld
Tim Ohl, Devolution, ADT
Garry Stewart has built a reputation for pushing dance beyond convention into new realms. In Devolution he collaborated with Canadian multi-disciplinary artist Louis-Philippe Demers, UK video artist Gina Czarnecki and London based costume designer Georg Meyer-Wiel to create a unique world. Situating humans in communion with multiple robotic machines of both large and medium scale, kinetic set and lighting design, a multitude of robotic prostheses and ambulating robotic constructs as well as extraordinary video art, Devolution explores the relationship between machine and body.
Filled with symbolism and ritualised process Devolution highlights the fact that that for all of our technology we are still primitive, of the flesh and live as instinctive biological beings. (Text courtesy of Australian Dance Theatre.)
Larissa McGowan, Daniel Jaber and Tim Ohl, Devolution, ADT
photo Chris Herzfeld
Larissa McGowan, Daniel Jaber and Tim Ohl, Devolution, ADT
credits: direction and choreography Garry Stewart, robotics Louis-Philippe Demers, assistant director Carol Wellman, projections Gina Czarnecki, cinematographer Tony Clark, composer Darrin Verhargen, costumes Georg Meyer-Wiel, dancers Shannon Anderson, Daryl Brandwood, Danny Golding, Daniel Jaber, Paea Leach, Glen McCurley, Larissa McGowan, Tim Ohl, Xiao-Xuan Yang, Paul Zivkovich
performances: premiere, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide, March 2006; Sydney Festival, Sydney, January 2007; Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide, August 2007; Théâtre de la Ville, Paris, France, November 2007; Annecy, France, November 2007
Larissa McGowan, Devolution, ADT
photo Chris Herzfeld
Larissa McGowan, Devolution, ADT
reviews/articles – realtime
dance evolution in the age of robotics
erin branngian, realtime 71, feburary-march 2006
dance for the new century
jonathan bollen, realtime 72, april-may 2006
all in good time
keith gallasch and virginia baxter, realtime 77, february-march 2007
videos
preview
Daniel Jaber, Devolution, ADT
photo Chris Herzfeld
Daniel Jaber, Devolution, ADT
other
devolution
alan brissenden, the australian, march 6, 2006
australian dance theatre
alex wheaton, db magazine, march 8, 2006
fringe & festival reviews: devolution
matt byrne, sunday mail, march 12, 2006
retro and kitsch – so in style
raymond gill, the age, march 13, 2006
devolution
candice marcus, entropy, march 14, 2006
devolution
patrick mcdonald, the advertiser review, february 18, 2006
devolution
peter burdon, adelaide advertiser, march 4, 2006
devolution
raymond gill, devolution, the age, march 13, 2006
review: devolution
diana simmonds, stage noise, january 25, 2007
dancers on the treadmill
michael wilkins, daily telegraph, january 26, 2007
rage against machines
jill sykes, sydney morning herald, january 26, 2007
even better the second time around
peter burdon, the advertiser (adelaide), august 8, 2007
maybe we’re not human: translating actions and affects between humans and machines in australian dance theatre’s devolution
jonathan bollen, brolga 31, 2009, pp. 9-18
dvds
ADT does not sell DVD recordings of any of its works due to copyright laws. The company does have a system for lending DVD kits to educational institutions. The DVDs currently available for loan to educators are: Birdbrain, The Age Of Unbeauty, HELD and Devolution.
DVDs are loaned out with a $15 postage and handling fee plus an $85 deposit. The deposit is fully refunded upon the return of the DVD. For further information and to organise a loan contact Ros Heard.
